NIE's secret report on Afghanistan 'grim'

'Grim' Afghanistan report to be kept quiet until after election

Seven years after the US invaded Afghanistan to 'improve' the situation in the country an NIE report describes the condition there as 'grim'.

Sources close to the preparation of the National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) said Tuesday that the report was classified and did not give details about its contents.

The Bush administration has 'no plans to declassify' any of its contents before the November elections, the sources added.

The US invaded Afghanistan in 2001 in an effort to dismantle the al-Qaeda network and its Taliban protectors.

However, long-term occupation of Afghan land by the US and its allies, the extensive bombing and its overwhelmingly civilian casualties, and the lack of social and political reform have contributed to the war-ravaged country's poor condition.

Analysts believe that keeping the intelligence report under wraps would likely help Republican presidential nominee, Senator John McCain, who has focused his campaign on what he sees as the success of the Iraq "surge," in which the US added troops to lessen violence.

Drawing attention to problems in Afghanistan would further put the spotlight on President Bush's failures, which might rub off on the Republican presidential nominee.

Meanwhile, Admiral Michael Mullen, Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, gave a similarly gloomy picture of the situation in Afghanistan in testimony before Congress.

"I'm not sure we're winning it in Afghanistan," he said on Tuesday.

Mullen added that without a change in approach "no amount of troops, in no amount of time", could ever achieve the US objectives in Afghanistan.

The report comes just as defense secretary, Robert Gates, warned against a rapid troop surge in Afghanistan, suggesting the US should instead try to train and beef up the Afghan army.